Between 1764 and 1775, thirteen British colonies were established in North America. Each colony was unique, with its own government, religious beliefs, and customs. They didn’t interact much with each other, making them quite different. John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, noted that bringing these colonies together under one system would be a huge challenge. However, the pressure from the British Empire eventually led to the Revolutionary War, which united the colonies.
On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress decided to declare independence from Great Britain. Just two days later, on July 4, 1776, they accepted the Declaration of Independence. This document marked the birth of a new nation, no longer just a group of separate colonies. On September 9, 1776, the name “United States of America” was officially adopted, replacing “United Colonies.”
The American Revolutionary War ended with the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783. Representatives from both Great Britain and the United States signed the treaty, which set the boundaries between the two. The United States gained all the land east of the Mississippi River, north of Florida, and south of Canada.
In 1801, Thomas Jefferson became the third president of the United States. Two years later, in 1803, the U.S. bought the Louisiana Territory from France for about fifteen million dollars. This purchase doubled the size of the country, stretching from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada.
In 1810, Florida declared its independence from Spain, and by 1821, it became part of the United States after the Adams-Onís Treaty was ratified. General Andrew Jackson accepted the transfer of West Florida from Spain on July 17, 1821.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, added Texas, California, and parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado to the United States. The U.S. paid Mexico eighteen million two hundred fifty thousand dollars for this land.
In 1846, the Oregon Treaty divided the Oregon Territory at the 49th parallel. The Gadsden Purchase in 1853 added a strip of land along the Mexico-U.S. border for ten million dollars, intended for a southern railroad.
The United States bought Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867, for seven million two hundred thousand dollars. Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959. The Hawaiian Islands became a U.S. territory in 1900 and were admitted as a state on August 21, 1959.
From the admission of Delaware as the first state on December 7, 1787, to Hawaii as the last state in 1959, the United States grew through these land acquisitions. Each step in this journey helped shape the nation we know today.
Research the key events mentioned in the article, such as the Declaration of Independence, the end of the Revolutionary War, and major land acquisitions. Create a timeline poster that visually represents these events in chronological order. Use images and brief descriptions to make your timeline engaging.
Using a blank map of the United States, color and label the territories acquired during different periods as described in the article. Include the Louisiana Purchase, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and the Gadsden Purchase. This will help you visualize how the United States expanded over time.
In groups, reenact the discussions that might have taken place during the Continental Congress when deciding to declare independence. Assign roles such as John Adams or Thomas Jefferson, and debate the pros and cons of breaking away from Great Britain. This will help you understand the challenges faced by the Founding Fathers.
Imagine you are a colonist living in one of the thirteen colonies during the Revolutionary War. Write a letter to a friend or family member explaining your thoughts and feelings about the push for independence and the formation of a new nation. Use historical facts to support your perspective.
Choose one of the states that joined the Union after the original thirteen colonies. Create a poster that highlights the key events and figures involved in its journey to statehood. Include interesting facts about the state’s history and its significance to the United States.
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Between 1764 and 1775, thirteen British colonies were formed in North America. Each independent colony was quite different from the others, with its own government, religious practices, and customs, and they had very little interaction with one another. John Adams remarked that uniting the thirteen colonies under the same principles and system of action would be an extraordinary feat. It was the ongoing pressure from the British Empire that ultimately led to the Revolutionary War and the colonies’ unification.
On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain, and on July 4, 1776, Congress accepted the Declaration of Independence, which established a new independent nation rather than just a collection of separate colonies. On September 9, 1776, the Continental Congress formally named the new nation the United States of America, replacing the term “United Colonies.”
The American Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States. The treaty established the boundaries between the British Empire and the new nation, granting the United States all territories east of the Mississippi River, north of Florida, and south of Canada.
With the election of Thomas Jefferson as the third president in 1801, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 for fifty million francs (approximately $11.25 million) and the cancellation of debts worth eighteen million francs (about $3.75 million), totaling fifteen million U.S. dollars. In today’s money, this would be equivalent to around a quarter of a billion dollars. The territory, which was about 828 million square miles, effectively doubled the size of the young Republic, stretching from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west, and from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the Canadian border in the north.
A year after James Madison, the fourth president, was elected, Florida was acquired and declared a U.S. possession in 1810 after the territory declared its independence from Spain. Spain did not relinquish its claim until the ratification of the Adams-Onís Treaty. General Andrew Jackson personally accepted the delivery of West Florida from its Spanish governor on July 17, 1821.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, resulted in the acquisition of Texas, California, and a large area that included roughly half of New Mexico, most of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. The U.S. paid a total of eighteen million two hundred fifty thousand dollars to Mexico.
On June 15, 1846, the Oregon Treaty divided the territory at the 49th parallel. The Gadsden Purchase in 1853 involved the United States purchasing a strip of land along the Mexico-U.S. border for ten million dollars, intended for a southern transcontinental railroad.
The United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867, for seven million two hundred thousand U.S. dollars. Alaska did not become a state until January 3, 1959. The Hawaiian Islands officially became a U.S. territory in 1900. From December 7, 1787, when Delaware was the first state admitted into the Union, to August 21, 1959, when Hawaii was the last state admitted, the United States was formed through these land acquisitions over time.
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Colonies – Settlements or territories established and governed by a foreign power. – The thirteen American colonies declared their independence from British rule in 1776.
Independence – The state of being free from control or support by another country or organization. – The United States celebrates its independence from Great Britain on July 4th each year.
Treaty – A formal agreement between two or more countries, usually to end a conflict or establish terms of peace. – The Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially ended the American Revolutionary War.
Territory – An area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state. – The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States territory in 1803.
Purchase – The act of buying something, often referring to land or property. – The United States made the Louisiana Purchase from France for $15 million.
Boundaries – Lines that mark the limits of an area, often used to define political or geographical regions. – The Mississippi River serves as one of the natural boundaries between several U.S. states.
Nation – A large group of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory. – Canada is a nation known for its diverse culture and vast landscapes.
Acquisitions – The act of gaining possession or control of something, often referring to land or resources. – The United States made several territorial acquisitions during the 19th century, expanding its borders significantly.
River – A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river. – The Nile River is one of the longest rivers in the world and was crucial to the development of ancient Egyptian civilization.
Florida – A state in the southeastern region of the United States, known for its warm climate and coastline. – Florida was acquired by the United States from Spain in 1821 through the Adams-Onís Treaty.
